August 12, 1998

Twenty Three Newcomers Report For Furman Pre-Season Practice

GREENVILLE -- As expected Furman welcomed 23 newcomers to campus Wednesday in preparation for pre-season football practice, which gets underway Friday morning.

"It's always a thrill to welcome a new class to campus and get them started in the program," said head coach Bobby Johnson on Wednesday. "In every freshman class you see the future of your program, and by the looks of this particular group the future looks good for Furman football."

Eighteen scholarship players join five walk-ons in making up Furman's latest group of newcomers. After reporting Wednesday afternoon, the newest Paladins were outfitted with equipment and underwent physicals.

On Thursday Furman's newcomers will participate in the NCAA mandated academic day before taking part in the program's first practice in shorts and helmets Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Furman's veterans are scheduled to report to pre-season camp Saturday, and the first full squad practice is slated for Monday at 6:20 a.m.

NOTES: Furman freshman nose guard Rashad Muhammad (Atlanta, Ga.) weighed in at a Furman program record 334 pounds on Wednesday. Furman's five walk-ons include offensive lineman Brad Byars (Greenwood, S.C.), wide receiver Brock Kelsey (Orlando, Fla.), tailback Jason Hurley (Tampa, Fla.), defensive back Mike Hauswald (Winston Salem, N.C.), and junior tight end Patrick Garner (Greenville, S.C.).